Open Figure Drawing is pleased to announce the 2024 Teaching Artist Series.
Through the workshops offered in this series, we are highlighting some of the best teaching artists in our community. Each instructor has decades of experience and supports the learning process inherent to OFD’s open studio. Our workshops are designed to serve all artists, whether they are amateurs, “weekend artists,” high school or college students, retirees, or professional artists.
We hope you will find workshops that appeal to you in this series.
There are scholarships available to help anyone who would like to attend a workshop. Call Iver Johnson 315-475-3400.
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.
You may never draw on a blank piece of paper again
Starting Thursday, November 14, 2024, 7 – 9 pm
Delavan Studios, room 413
enter through 501 W Fayette St
Syracuse
Price: $15 (or 1 punch when paying in-person)
In addition to drawing, collage is the primary medium for OFD president Scott Herrmann. Over the course of four sessions, he will share with you what he’s learned about ripped paper, prepared surfaces, found ephemera, mark-making, rudimentary printmaking, and transferring images. If you want to add some dimension to your work, experiment with some new methods, or simply enjoy making a mess and having fun, this is the workshop for you!
Each session will feature demonstrations from Scott, followed by hands-on practice. Your “final assignment” will be to create a fully collaged surface that you will then draw on, working from one of our world-famous live models.
Supplies: you will eventually need a substrate to work on, and your adhesive of choice. Not necessary for the first class, and Scott will discuss his preferred choices. Also start thinking about collecting items to collage with, literally any printed material will do: newspapers, magazines, pages from books, phone books, receipts, wallpaper, wrapping paper, greeting cards, brochures, photographs, postcards, photocopies, paint swatches, etc, etc, etc!!
Check out the following artists:
• Robert Rauschenberg
• Kurt Schwitters
• Hannah Hoch
• Russell Mills
• Nidhal Chamekh
Classes
1. Image Transfer, Thursday November 14, 7 – 9 pm
One of the main hallmarks of collage is taking images out of their original context and forcing them into a new context. Simply pasting two images together is probably the most well known way to accomplish this, but there are other, non-glue ways that can be done with stuff you have lying around the house. Come see how it’s done! We will have plenty of paper to work on and play with, but you are welcome to bring your own. 100# smooth paper is ideal. You are encouraged to find and bring old projects you’ve set aside. One thing we will be continually stressing is that anything old can be made new again. We will also have plenty of imagery to play with but you are more than welcome to bring your own. For the methods being demonstrated, you must bring toner copies! Laser copies don’t work.
2. Textures and Such, Thursday November 21, 7 – 9 pm
Collage translates from French as “pasted papers, ” and for this session Scott will explore how to achieve textures with paper, glue, and paint to create exciting backgrounds to draw on. There will be demonstrations by Scott, and then some hands-on practice. It’s going to get messy!
3. Creating a Surface, Thursday December 5, 7 – 9 pm
There will be a final project for this workshop! You will create a prepared surface using the methods learned and then draw on it. The third session will be a totally hands-on workshop where the process will begin and then you will bring your surface (homework!) to the fourth session…
4. Drawing on the Surface, Thursday December 12, 7 – 9 pm
…where we will work from a live model, using your collaged, prepared surface. Fair warning: you may never work on a blank piece of paper again!
This session is open to anyone who wants to join without instruction, like the usual uninstructed figure drawing sessions. The session will consist of 1 pose for 90 minutes.
These classes are part of in Open Figure Drawing’s 2024 Education Project – Today’s Studio Artists
All events, times, locations, etc, are subject to change.
Register$15 (or 1 punch when paying in-person)
You must pay to complete your registration.
Register online using the form below
or
by mail or in person during any OFD session by printing and completing this form.
There are scholarships available to help anyone who would like to attend. Call Iver Johnson 315-475-3400.
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.
Saturday, October 26, 2024, 1 – 4 pm
Delavan Studios, room 413
enter through 501 W Fayette St
Syracuse
Price: $15 (or 1 punch when paying in-person)
James will begin with a demo addressing facial structure and perspective, and also emphasizing a priority of steps taken to get the portrait underway.
With the rest of the time, everyone will draw from the model a number of head poses, similar to gesture drawing. Finally, we will continue with a longer pose to work on shadows, highlights and composition.
Bring whatever materials you prefer for figure drawing, including paint. James will be using the following materials and suggests you try them too.
- toned paper 14 x 17″ or larger for at least 1 drawing
- black & white charcoal
- kneaded eraser
James Skvarch has a BFA from Maryland Art Institute and has taught drawing at local high schools and colleges, including Syracuse University. His artwork is in Syracuse University’s Print Collection, the Herbert Johnson Museum, Rochester Memorial Art Museum, Munson Williams Proctor Institute, Onondaga County Public Library System, and Cooperstown Museum of Art.
You can view his etchings on his website.
This class is part of in Open Figure Drawing’s 2024 Education Project – Today’s Studio Artists
All events, times, locations, etc, are subject to change.
Register
$15 (or 1 punch when paying in-person)
You must pay to complete your registration.
Online and mail-in registration is now closed
Limit: 12 participants
There are scholarships available to help anyone who would like to attend. Call Iver Johnson 315-475-3400.
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.
Saturday, October 19, 2024, 1 – 3:30 pm
Delavan Studios, room 413
enter through 501 W Fayette St
Syracuse
Price: $15 (or 1 punch when paying in-person)
People find watercolor more challenging that dry or opaque art materials. Dan will focus on how to use the medium, using watercolor to create values, similar to shading with graphite or pencil, varying the amount of pigment on a brush, or by building up layers: letting one layer dry and then making darker areas by painting over parts of it.
Dan will do a follow-up class later in the year that explores ways to combine hues & create stronger variations in value within a layer of paint. If you have not used watercolor, or struggle with it, Dan recommends you take this October 19 class first.
- 140 lb cold press professional watercolor paper (Dan will bring some) Dan will be using pieces no larger than 10 x 14″
- watercolor brushes
1 large round – at least 1/2″ (Dan will bring 1/2″ or larger brushed for everyone)
1 medium round – size 6 to 8
1 small round – size 2 to 4 - any watercolor paint Dan will be using Winsor & Newton professional paints, burnt umber or burnt sierra, and maybe cobalt blue or ultramarine blue
- pencil
- eraser
- container to hold water
- absorbent rags or paper towels
- board at least as large as your paper
- tape to hold paper to board
Dan Shanahan watercolor paints people, plein air paints during the summer, and creates illustrative paintings. He has always enjoyed arting of some sort. His earliest artistic interests were cartoons since long before he can remember, and illustration since just a little bit before he can remember. Dan has been drawing with Open Figure Drawing for 20 years, and started using watercolor in 2015. His paintings have been shown in Edgewood Gallery, the Everson Museum, and other places.
View Dan’s artwork on his website.
This class is part of in Open Figure Drawing’s 2024 Education Project – Today’s Studio Artists
All events, times, locations, etc, are subject to change.
Registration is now closed
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.
Saturdays, starting September 7, 1 – 3 pm
Delavan Studios, room 413
enter through 501 W Fayette St
Syracuse
Price: $15 (or 1 punch when paying in-person) per session.
Iver’s 2021 manuscript, Awaken: A Guide to Drawing forms the basis of this 10 week series of classes.
Iver will guide participants though the figure drawing process. Each session will have a focus, and together they form a foundation from which to build your figure drawing practice.
The first 5 week set:
| September 7, 1 – 3 pm | Line & Shape |
| September 14, 1 – 3 pm | Measurement (AKA Proportion and placement) |
| September 21, 1 – 3 pm | Tonality (light and shadow) |
| Septemer 28, 1 – 3 pm | Framework of the pose (Ranking Structure) |
| October 5, 1 – 3 pm | Surface Anatomy Details |
The second 5 week set (dates TBA):
- Dynamic Details (Gravity)
- Foreshortening (Perspective)
- Structure of Images (Composition) frameworks
- Evolving the Image in Stages
- Balance, Direction and Unity.
Each class can be taken individually, without the need to take previous classes in the series.
Materials: All necessary materials will be provided.
This class is part of in Open Figure Drawing’s 2024 Education Project – Today’s Studio Artists
All events, times, locations, etc, are subject to change.
Registration is now closed
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.
Saturday, July 27, 2024, 1 – 3:30 pm
Delavan Studios, room 413
enter through 501 W Fayette St
Syracuse
Price: $15 (or 1 punch when paying in-person)
Direct over the shoulder instruction for drawing from the model.
Covering
- Gesture Drawing
- Contour Drawing
- Measuring and proportion,
- What to do and not to do!
- How to set up your drawing board.
- How to hold your charcoal
- Cheap paper for warm ups,
- Better charcoal paper for longer drawings.
- Soft vine charcoal
- Medium compressed charcoal or charcoal pencils
- Erasers
John Fitzsimmons is a painter, drawer and printmaker who maintains a studio in the Delavan Studio Building in Syracuse NY. He primarily uses the figure as raw material in looking for the “non-verbal narrative” that is the heart of his work. He has exhibited widely in the US and internationally both in group and solo exhibitions and is in many collections both private and public as well as being an alumni of the Arts In Embassies program.
This class is part of in Open Figure Drawing’s 2024 Education Project – Today’s Studio Artists
All events, times, locations, etc, are subject to change.
Registration is now closed
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.
With Dan Shanahan
Thursday, April 11, 2024, 6 – 8 pm
Everson Museum, 401 Harrison St, Syracuse
$32 Everson Museum Member
$40 Non-member
In this workshop, Dan Shanahan will guide you through the process of creating a portrait with watercolor, starting with laying out your image by drawing, and completing your work using watercolor to place lights and darks to carefully create depth.
You can find Dan Shanahan at Open Figure Drawing every week, using either watercolor or pastel.
Everson will provide the material needed for the class but asks that students supply their own brushes. Students are free to bring their own other watercolor material as well. Dan will be using the suplies listed below.
Supplies:
Pencil & Eraser
Brushes:
• 1/2″ round mop type brush
• 2 brushes size ranging from 6 to 10 rounds
• 1 or 2 brushes size 2 – 3 rounds
Paints:
• burnt sienna
• cobalt blue
• perylene maroon
Container with open top to hold water
Absorbent rags
Board at least as large as your paper
Tape
Please use the paper supplied with the class.
This class is the first in Open Figure Drawing’s 2024 Education Project – Today’s Studio Artists
Register through the Everson Museum’s website.
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.
When:
Saturday, November 4, 2023, 1 – 3:30 pm**
Where: Rosamond Gifford Zoo*
Registration is now closed
$25 or 2 punches
Includes admission to zoo
no walk-ins
Kate has been illustrating animals professionally for over 30 years. She is retired from the Rosamond Gifford Zoo where she was the zoo’s exhibit artist. She is currently working as a children’s book illustrator. You can view her portfolio at katewoodle.com
This is the 8th event in OFD’s series Today’s Studio Artists.
Description
Kate will start class with a discussion of body structure including bones. She will use a skeleton of a bat, as well as photos showing skeletons, movement and different proportions. She’ll talk about several kinds of animals (lizards, birds, and mammals), their differences and similarities, all of this is in aid of learning to observe carefully.
In the Classroom
- Kate will demonstrate some quick two min. sketches and then participants will give it a try. We’ll experiment with techniques to help us loosen up.
- We’ll be looking at skeletons to better understand proportions and how animals move.
- We’ll use some of the same techniques used to draw the human figure.
- Using photos for reference, we’ll do a more detailed sketch and a finished drawing.
Next, Live Animals
We’ll go to another location at the zoo to sketch. If it’s warm enough we’ll sketch outside where the elephants and other large animals are located. If it’s too cold out, we’ll draw at exhibits inside.
Supplies
- Soft pencils
- Inexpensive sketch pad no larger than 9 X 12 that can be held resting on one arm when we visit the animals
- Optional: folding chair, when we’re outside the classroom
OFD will provide drawing paper for the classroom work.
*At the Zoo
At the main entrance, give the attendant your name and tell them you are here for the Animal Anatomy class with Kate Woodle to be let in free. No walk-ins. Register by Thursday, November 2.
After you are let in, go up the hallway ramp to the lobby. The classroom is in the lobby, across from the cafe, next to the bathrooms.
Online & mail in registration is now closed. There are no walk-ins
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.
When: Sunday October 29, 2023, 1:00 – 3:30 pm
Where: Pompey, NY
Address given upon registration.
2nd floor studio, above garage (no elevator)
$25 or 2 punches
Lucie is well known for her watercolor work, and she will share her expertise in this special workshop/demonstration at her home studio. She has been painting using watercolors since 1997. Her formal training is in Surface Pattern design, which led to 15 years of designing dinnerware. She was raised and still lives in a part of the state that has an abundance of rolling hills, dairy farms, woods, fields, wildflowers and trees; their presence influences her daily life and painting. Lucie will focus on wet on wet technique in this workshop
This is the 7th event in OFD’s series Today’s Studio Artists.
Description
Lucie will guide participants through the steps of painting a loosly-representative portrait in watercolor from a reference photo (no model).
What to bring
- Slippers or comfortable indoor shoes
The studio has cherry floors - Reference photo of a person
The head and face should mostly fill the page, much like an ID photo. Please bring 3 or more 8.5×11″ cheap paper copies of the reference photo, so we can draw on it to find shapes, shadows, and highlights, fold them, cut them up. - Supplies
If this is a brand-new experience for you, and you don’t want to purchase new supplies, there will be some supplies on hand to borrow.
Drawing Supplies
1. Sketch paper
2. Soft pencil suitable for quickly shading
3. Eraser: Kneaded erasers are good on watercolor paper because they don’t tear it up
4. Optional: compass or dividers, straight edge
Painting Supplies
1. Sturdy, waterproof board, about 11×14
Any stiff board wrapped in packing tape to make it waterproof
2. Watercolor paper
Arches 140 pound cold press or similar 100% cotton rag paper. Anything less quality than this will not be suitable. Single sheets of good quality paper will be available to buy at the workshop at cost.
3. Two water containers (we’ll have jugs of water on hand)
4. Rags or paper towels
5. Masking Tape (white or off-white) to attach the paper to the board
6. Brushes
Recommended: Solo Horton 2105 Professional Red Sable Watercolor Brush, available online
7. Watercolor paints and a palette for mixing– some paints will be on hand to use if you don’t have any paint.
Accessibility
The location is a private studio above a residential garage and is not handicapped accessible. Access is up 14 fairly steep steps. Bathroom is in the house.
Register
$25 or two ticket punches- There are scholarships available to help anyone who would like to attend. Call 315-475-3400.
Registration is limited to 8 participants. You must pay to complete your registration. If more than 8 people are interested, Lucie may do another session of the workshop.
All events, times, locations, etc, are subject to change.
Registration is now closed. Contact us if you’d like Lucie to have another session.
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.
Saturday, September 23, 2023 1 – 3:30 pm
Location Changed! We are now at:
Westcott Community Center
826 Euclid Ave, Syracuse
$25 or 2 punches
Len Nicholas is a freelance concept artist and designer. He has more than 15 years of professional experience in the industry. He has worked with numerous clients, including Ubisoft, Hasbro, Silver Gate Studios and Spin Master, providing concept designs, presentation renders, and illustrations. His independent work has also been featured in Imagine Fx magazine. Len has over 130,000 followers on Instagram (@toysagogo). He has become well known for his drawings of robotics.
In additional to his professional techniques, Len has been known to experiment with illustration, portraits, watercolor painting, and the sacred art of LEGO. He drops in to draw with Open Figure Drawing occasionally.
Class Description
If you are curious about contemporary techniques, this is the class for you. Len will do a demonstration while discussing his process and additional topics such as:
• Freelancing in the entertainment field
• Pros and cons of being a social media influencer
• Pros and cons of digital work
• Pros and cons of traditional studio drawing
Len will be using Photoshop on a Wacom Cintiq tablet.
Scholarships
There are scholarships available to help anyone who would like to attend. Call 315-475-3400. All events, times, locations, etc, are subject to change.
Wacom MobileStudio Pro
OFD has one Wacom MobileStudio Pro to loan. If you are interested, contact us by midnight, Friday September 15. The first person who contacted us can use it. Please arrive at the session on time. If the first person is late, and if we have a waiting list. at 1:05 pm it will be offered to the next person who contacted us.
This is the 6th event in OFD’s series Today’s Studio Artists.
Registration is now closed
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.